Fur-plucking machine



l (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Bharat 1.

C. 1E. SAGKETT. FUR PLUGKING MACHINE.

No. 566,342. Patented Aug. 25 1896.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 2.

c. E. SAGKETT FUR PLUKING MACHINE.

No. 566,342. Patenwd Aug. 25, 189e.

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CHARLES E. SACKETT, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

FUR-PLUCKING MACHINE. h

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 566,342, dated August25, 18916. Application iiled January 16, 1895. Serial No. 535,180. (Nomodel.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SAOKETT, a citizen of the United States,residing in Danbury, in the county of Fairfieldand State of Connecticut,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fur-Plucking Machines;

and I do hereby declare that the following an elastic tube attached tohis thumbs and`- the side or edge of a dull knife manipulated by hisfingers, and by constant intermittent gripping and pulling removes theprojecting hair from the pelt without injury to the fur. The machinesnow doing the best practical work combine a rotary elastic roller and aparallel rotary shaft situated below it, to which are attachedknife-blades at intermittent distances, between lwhich the hair isgripped and pulled. In some cases the elastic roller has a reciprocatorymotion to and from the knife-blades. These machines also combine a bladeyor comb to lift the hair,which blade hides the pulling action from theoperator.

The object of my invention is to furnish a new and improved device inwhich the gripping and intermittent pulling action can be observed andcontrolled to better advantage, and which n the simplicity of itsconstruction and action is almost identical with the methods andmaterials used in handlabor,`

6 are detail views. Fig. 7 shows the adoption,

mechanically, of the actual implements used in hand-plucking, t'. e., apiece' of rubber tubing and a dull knife-edge brought consecutively intointermittent parallel gripping and pulling relation. Fig. 8 shows insection the operation of plucking the hair from a pelt,

in which I show in action my adaptation of` the three simple elementsused in hand-plucking, i. e., a rod or lbeam to support the pelt, aroller whose serrated edges answer to continuous dull knife-edges, and arubber tube broughtl rapidly and continuously into pressed parallel juxtaposition with said edges, whereby the hair isgripped and pulled.Fig. 9 shows the elongation of the rubber tube for purposes hereinaftermentioned.

` The serrated or grooved roller in my invention, owing to its uniqueposition in combination, answers several purposes. It iirst brushes upthe hair and fur from the pelt, then by its rolling action conveys itover its surface, the hairs being longest always in advance of the fur,and thus presents the hairtips to the action of the swiftly-revolvingrubber tubes, which, as they come into position beside the roll, forcethe hairinto its grooves,

whereby a double or treble nip is obtained,

and then by the simultaneous continued movement of both roll and tube inthe same direction a pulling action is set up which is irresistible andmuch superior to any single knife-edge, which, if at all irregular inedge, permits slipping of some of the hairs. The use made of the rubbertube in my invention is also unique. Single rubber rolls and rotaryknives, both revolving on their own axes, have often been used inpluckingmachines combined with various other mechanism to make themeffective; but in my invention the rubber tubes, as shown, must befixed. I obtain my pulling action by bringing a series of stationarytubes into consecutive action. Ifthese tubes revolved on their own axes,the whole eifect would be lost, for their function is as they revolve tostrike a blow upon the grooved roll, to then exert a pressure against itas they pass it, land thereby to revolve the grooved roll by continuallybuiiin g it. I therefore term them elastic buffers in the furtherdescription of this invention. It will readily be seen that if theyturned on their own axes they could exert no power to move the groovedroll, except pressure, in which case their movement would be up and theroll down, and no simultaneous pulling action could be set up.

While the above description explains the simple principles of myinvention,there are various contributory devices which add largely ICOto its efficiency, as well as varying forms of construction having thesame mechanical action and end in View, which are fully Shown in Figs. 1to 6 and which are now set forth in detail.

1 is a plate or wheel constructed with radiating spokes or blades 2 2 2,forming open spaces between them.

The blades or spokes are preferably in-y clined, as shown in Figs. 4, 5,6, and 9, so as not only to afford better facilities for screwing orfastening on the elastic buffers 3 3 3, but also to act as fan-blades tocreate in their swift revolution a current of air that shall cause asuction in front to suck in the hairs to be gripped, and, when pulled,free it from the blades and drive it through the wheel to any convenientreceptacle in the rear. The elastic buffers may be of any form mostdesirable, preferably a strip of pure rubber bent around the spokes orblades 2, as in Figs. 4 and 9, or secured below the blade by a plate 7,as in Fig. 5, or looped, as in Fig. 6, to secure greater elasticity, orthe spokes may be round, inserted, and rubber tubing used, as aforesaid.In all cases the action and intent is the same. The wheel 1 is attachedto a spindle 8, operated by a pulley-wheel 10 from any convenient power,and is hung preferably vertical in a journal-box 9. This box is made,preferably, adjustable in the guides 11 11 by means of the screw andhand-wheel 12. The whole is mounted vupon a suitable table 26. Th-ewheel or plate 1 is entirely openvbetween its spokes. Immediately behindits plucking side is placed a wind-box 13, communicating with aWind-pipe 14 and an exhaust-fan 15, which keeps up a constant windsuction through the spaces in the revolving wheel in addition to thatcreated by the blades of the wheel itself, as aforesaid, for the purposeof more securely drawing the hairs into the wheel and sucking them -awayto any suitable receptacle when plucked. The wheel itself, when inoperation, is preferably in'closed by a `suitable cover 30, as outlinedin Figs. 2, 5, 8, and 9, with an adjustable slide 31,which shuts down asnear the pelt as leaves the pluckin g action unobstructed to the View.This slide is provided with screwslots 34, as in Fig. 9. At the pointwhere the pelt is operated upon land supported by the table -26 ismounted a roller 16 in suitable bearings, preferably end centers, as 1S18,

`which are screwed into bearings 17 17, coushown in Fig. 8, for thepurpose of keeping the roller clean. This roller 16 is preferablygrooved laterally, so as to form a series of parallel edges, and is somounted as to have its axis of rotation at right angles to the axis ofthe plate or wheel, or its circumference parallel with the side face lofthe wheel. It receives its motion preferably from the wheel 1, which isadvanced by the hand-wheel and screw 12, or a worm-wheel if slowermotion is desired, until its surface or its elastic buffers exertconsiderable pressure against the surface of the roller 16 as theyswiftly revolve past it. Their impact will of course revolve the roller.

The pelts to be plucked are fed to the machine by a rod or roller 22,over which they are drawn, one end being held by the operator. The rodis thrown back to receive a pelt by the spring 32. Itis pressed forwardby the body-rod 24. Its forward motion is checked by the stop-collars25. The whole is `supported by the rods 213. This method of supportingthe pelt is not new. Any desirable mechanism may be used for thatpurpose.

By causing the wheel 1 to revolve the roller 16 by its side action notonly is the greatest simplicity of construction obtained, but all slipmotion between the two surfaces is avoided, as would probably be thecase if they were either geared together or revolved by independentaction. Freedom to adjust the pressure of contact is also gained byhaving the wheel revolve the roll by friction only. Vhile claiming thismethod as preferable, I may, if desired, gear 'the wheel and rollertogether or revolve them by independentacti'on.

Another unique feature of my invention is that whereas in all otherplucking-machines the pulling action takes place at lonce across thewhole breadth of the machine, and is therefore as violent on a lightpelt,which tears easily, as on a heavy one, in my machine the action isadjustable, and a drawing pull from one end to the other of the rollermay be obtained to any degree of delicacy.

By reference to Fig. 7 it will be seen the elastic buffers aredescending from avertical to a horizontal position continually.By'elevating the roller 16 to cross them at any point action upon a verysmall portion of the pelt at a time by a traveling pull from on-e end ofthe roller to the 'other is obtained. This inclination of the axis voftwo plucking rollers or surfaces relatively to each other is unique withmy improvement.

It is manifest that a solid circular vertical plate might be usedcovered with elastic material in combination with a fluted roller or asolid plate iiuted radially from its center, in combination with anelastic roller; but I prefer the open wheel and elastic buffers strikingintermittent blows upon the roller edges, for the reasons set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

IOO

IIO

1. In a hair-plucking machine a series of elastic substances radiatingand revolved from a common center in the same plane, in combination witha roller uted longitudinalljT whose aXis is parallel to the plane ofrevolution of said elastic substances, the said elastic substances intheir revolution contacting with said roller for the purposes set forthand substantially as described and shown.

2. In a hair-plucking machine the combination of a bar 22 over which apelt is drawn, a series of elastic substances revolving in the sameplane about a common center, and a iiuted roller 16 interposed betweenthe pelt and the elastic substances whereby the hair of the pelt israised conveyed over the top of the roller and plucked by the action ofthe elastic substances and the roller combined substantially asdescribed and shown.

. 3. In a hair-plucking machine a series of elastic substances revolvingin the same plane about a common center in combination with a rollerwhose axis is parallel to the plane of revolution of said elasticsubstances the said substances in their revolution contacting with saidroller, and means for adjusting said roller to and from said revolvingelastic substances for the purposes set forth and substantially asdescribed and shown.

4. In a hair-plucking machine the combination of a rotating hub, bladesarranged radially thereto and at an oblique angle to the plane ofrevolution, elastic substances .attached to the forward longitudinaledges of the blades, a luted roller, with which said elastic substancesin their revolution come in contact, and a case inclosing said bladeshaving inlet and outlet passages whereby a wind suction is produced infront of said case to suck in the hairs and enter them between saidroller and the elastic substances for the purposes set forth andsubstantially as described and shown.

5. In a hair-pluckin g machine the combination of a series of elasticsubstances revolving in the same plane about a common center, a lutedroller whose axis is parallel to the plane of revolution of said elasticsubstances,

and with which roller said elastic substances 5o come into contact intheir revolution, and means for adjusting the vertical height of saidroller, substantially as described and shown.

6. In ahair-plucking machine a series of elastic substances revolvingabouta common center, a case inclosing the same, a roller 16 placedwithout the case, the axis of said roller being parallel to the plane ofrevolution of the elastic substances, said elastic substances in theirrevolution contacting with said roller, combined with a fan 15, and awind-pipe 14 connecting the fan to the casing, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a hair-plucking machine the combination of a series of elasticsubstances revolving in the same plane about a common center, and aroller 16 operating in conjunction therewith, having an axis parallel tothe plane of revolution of said elastic substances, with a movable bar22 situated in front of said roller 16 over which bar the pelts to beplucked are drawn, and mechanism for actuating said bar, substantiallyas described and shown.

8. In a hair-plucking machine the combination of a series of elasticsubstances arranged radially from a common center, means for revolvingthe same, a luted roller arranged with its axis parallel to the plane ofrevolution of said elastic substances, its surface having intermittentcontact therewith, means for adjusting said roller to and from saidelastic substances, means for adjusting the height of said roller, acase inclosing said revolving elastic substances, means for creating awind suction in front of and through said case, whereby the hairs areremoved, adjusting the inlet-orifice to said case and a movable bar forsupporting the pelts to be plucked in front of said case with mechanismfor operating said bar, substantially as described and shown, and forthe purposes set forth.

CHAS. E. SACKETT.

Witnesses:

EDWIN B. BARKER, PHILEMON SrLLroN. Y

